Amazon Opens New Fulfillment Center In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The biggest retailer in the world, Amazon, is open for business in Baltimore. It's providing thousands of jobs and packages to our region.

Tracey Leong has the details.

If you use Amazon, chances are your package came through this fulfillment center---which is the first one to open here in Maryland.

Thousands of packages a day take a ride through Baltimore's Amazon fulfillment center before arriving at your home.

Inside Amazon's massive one million square foot operation using 16 miles of conveyer belt to carry your items, new state of the art technology is working to fulfill customers' orders.

"The software knows what she is trying to stow in the yellow containers and it will bring her up the yellow pod where she can put the inventory in," said Amazon GM Mike Thomas.

These Amazon robotics are boosting productivity by 25%, carrying up to 750 pounds and doubling storage to keep a higher selection of products in stock for customers.

While it may look busy now, operations are about to get ramped up, with the holiday season just around the corner.

"We are like Santa's elves so black Friday, Cyber Monday, is our biggest time of the year," Thomas said.

And that means they'll be adding more jobs on top of the 3,000 they already provide.

"These are people that weren't working and now have jobs," said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. "Extremely exciting for Baltimore City and the region as a whole."

Ruppersberger is applauding Amazon for boosting our city's employment.

"They took the risk, evaluated the different areas and picked Baltimore," he said.

The Amazon fulfillment center in Baltimore is still looking to hire full-time employees, as well as seasonal workers.

If you are interested in learning more about employment with Amazon, click here.